The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-02-04
Married Women.
BILL TO GIVE THEM ALL THE LEGAL
RIGHTS AND DISABILITIES OF SPIN
STEERS,

The following bill defining the rights
powers and liabilities of married wom-
en- has been introduced into the Penn
sylvauia Senate by Mr.. Wolverton, of
Northumberland, aud favorably re-
ported by the Committee on Judiciary
General
SECTION l. That hereafter marriage
shall not be held to impose any disa-
bility on or incapacity in a married
woman as to the acquisition, ownership
possession, control, use or disposition
OF property of any kind, real and per-
sonal, or her right and power to make
contracts of any kind and to give obi
cations binding herself therefor, but
every married woman shall have the
same right to acquire, hold, possess,
control, use or dispose of her property
real and personal, in possession or ex-
pectancy in the same manner as if she
were feme sole without the interven-
tion OF any trustee and with all the
rights and liabilities incident thereto as
II she were not married, and property
Of every kind owned or earned by a
woman before or during her marriage
shall belong to her and not to her hus.
band or his creditors.
Sec. 2. A married woman shall be
capable of entering into aud rendering
herself liable upon any contract to the
extent OF her separate property, real
and personal, and of suing and being
sued, either upon her contracts or for
torts done to or committed by her in
all respects as if she were feme sole,
and her husband need not be Joined
with her as plaintiff or defendant, or
be made party to any action, suit or
legal proceeding of any kind brought
by or against her in her individual
right, and any debt, damages or costs
recovered by her in any such action,
suit or proceeding shall be her separate
property, and any debt, damages or
costs recovered against her in any such |
action, suit or other proceeding shall
be payable out of her separate prop
erty and not otherwise.
Sec. 3. A married woman may
make, execute and deliver deeds, con
veyances, mortgages, assignments and
leases of her separate property, real
and personal, and notes, bills, drafts,
bonds or obligations of any kind, and |
appoint attorneys to act for her, and it |
shall not be necessary for her husband |
to be made party thereto or joined |
therein, and in making deeds of con-
veyance by married man it shall not
be necessary for his wife to be made a |
party thereto or joined therein, aud |
every such deed of conveyance, mort
gage or lease by husband or wife shall |
convey mortgage or lease the whole |
estate of the grantor, mortgagor or
lessor, clear of the interest of the other
as husband or wife. Husband and
wife may convey mortgage, assign '
lease and give judgments and obliga.
tions to each other, binding their prop
erty, real aud personal, in the same |
manner as if they were not married. |
The acknowledgment of deed, mort
gage, assignment or letter of attorney
by a married woman shall be taken |
and certified in the same manner and |
form as If she were unmarried.
SEC. 4. husband and wife shall |
have the same civil remedies upon CON
tracts 10 their own name and right |
against all persons, including each |
other, tor the protection and recovery
OF their separate property as unmarried |
persons. As between husband and |
wife statutes of limitation shall be sus.
pended until the marriage shall be
terminated, but the time which has run |
before marriage shall be included in |
computing the time far limitation of |
suits between husband and wife
SEC. 5. A married woman NAV dis
pose OF her property, real and personal |
by last will and testament in writing, |
signed by her or manifested by her
mark or cross made by ber at the end |
thereof in the same manner as if she |
were unmarried, and hereafter q will |
executed by woman before marriage
shall not be deemed to be revoked by /,
her subsequent marriage.
SEC. 6. Every husband whose wife
shall die intestate, or who shall be dis
satisfied with the provisions of her
will, whether made before or after her
may elect to take against {
her will, in case she shall leave issue
Dne-third part of her real estate for
the term of his life, and one-third part
Of her personal estates absolutely, and
N ease she shall not leave issue, but
heirs or other kindred, he
hall be entitled TO one-half part of her
cal estate for the term of bis life and
'ne-half part of her personal estate ao-
olutely.